Межзвёздный скиталец
Chapter 19
Theybetrayednosignalsoftimidityatmyapproach,andIfounditaboy’stasktorapthemontheheadwiththeoar.
AndwhenIhadsokilledmythirdandmyfourth,Iwentimmediatelyandstrangelymad.IndeedquitebereftwasIofalljudgmentasIslewandslewandcontinuedtoslay.ForthespaceoftwohoursItoiledunceasinglywiththeoartillIwasreadytodrop.WhatexcessofslaughterImighthavebeenguiltyofIknownot,forattheendofthattime,asifbyasignal,allthesealsthatstilllivedthrewthemselvesintothewaterandswiftlydisappeared.
Ifoundthenumberofslainsealstoexceedtwohundred,andIwasshockedandfrightenedbecauseofthemadnessofslaughterthathadpossessedme.Ihadsinnedbywantonwastefulness,andafterIhaddulyrefreshedmyselfwiththisgoodwholesomefood,IsetaboutaswellasIcouldtomakeamends.Butfirst,erethegreattaskbegan,IreturnedthankstothatBeingthroughwhosemercyIhadbeensomiraculouslypreserved.ThereuponIlaboureduntildark,andafterdark,skinningtheseals,cuttingthemeatintostrips,andplacingituponthetopsofrockstodryinthesun.Also,Ifoundsmalldepositsofsaltinthenooksandcranniesoftherocksontheweathersideoftheisland.ThisIrubbedintothemeatasapreservative.
FourdaysIsotoiled,andintheendwasfoolishlyproudbeforeGodinthatnoscrapofallthatsupplyofmeathadbeenwasted.
